UH sees at-large softball berth as validation of program

By Sam Khan Jr. |
May 17, 2012
| Updated: May 17, 2012 10:26pm

Sophomore catcher Haley Outon has been a force at the plate for UH this season with 23 home runs and 63 RBIs - both school records.

When the Houston Cougars flipped on their televisions for the NCAA softball tournament selection show Sunday, they didn't know what to expect. They aren't used to life on the bubble.

Last season, the Cougars were a tournament lock after winning the Conference USA regular-season title. But in the program's 12-year history, Kyla Holas hasn't had teams that accomplished anything short of spectacular earn an at-large berth. So after UH finished the regular season 34-22 and in a three-way tie for third in the league, Holas and her team didn't know what their fate would be.

Auburn up first

When the word "Houston" flashed on the screen as the Austin Regional field was unveiled, Holas felt a bit of validation regarding her program. The Cougars will try to capitalize on their at-large opportunity at 1 p.m. Friday when they meet Auburn (33-21) at McCombs Field in the first round of the regional.

"It's such a big statement for the program that even on some of your not amazing years, people recognize what you do as a program and can put you in the postseason," Holas said. "That's what I think was the most (gratifying). That hasn't happened to us before. We've had to overachieve in the years prior to get in. So for this year, for that to happen that way, it was a big step for our program."

The Cougars' appearance in Austin will be their fifth in an NCAA regional and their second in a row. Four of the appearances have come since the 2007 season (after just one appearance in the first six years), showing the upward direction in which the program is heading.

In the previous four NCAA tournament seasons, the Cougars averaged 45 wins and won no fewer than 39 games, so this season's total is the lowest UH has had in making the postseason.

"It means a lot to know that our name is still there," senior outfielder Melissa Gregson said. "Houston's still a threat. Even though we may not be the best offensive team in the country or the best defensive team, we're still a threat."

Some of that respect may have been earned a year ago, when the Cougars went to the same regional - the Austin Regional - as the third seed (out of four teams). UH went 3-0 and won the regional title, then pushed Oklahoma State to three games in the super regional before falling to the Cowgirls. It was the second time in program history UH came within a game of the Women's College World Series.

Young pitching staff

This season, the Cougars have a respectable RPI (42) but a young pitching staff with two sophomores (Bailey Watts and Diedre Outon) and a freshman (Summer Groholski). The Cougars have offset that with an offense that ranks in the top 20 nationally in batting average (17th) and stolen bases (eighth).

Additionally, sophomore catcher Haley Outon is having one of the best offensive years in program history, having set school records in home runs (23) and RBIs (63).

With that, the Cougars are hoping to rekindle some of the magic they had at McCombs last year.

"Last year when we went into Austin, nobody ever thought we'd make it out of there, and we won three games in a row to win the region," Gregson said. "To know people are respectful of us, even though our record doesn't reflect what kind of team we are but they respect us enough to put us in, it means a lot."